Flower in Focus: Larkspur

July 2, 2018

For the month of July, our flower in focus is the dainty Larkspur. This beauty comes in shades of pink, white and lavender. They can be quite delicate because of their hollow stalks, so strong winds can easily break them. Though if you take care of them and they are protected from the high winds, they can grow to heights of about 36 – 72 inches.

The larkspur is associated with purity, levity and affection. It evokes feelings of optimism, joy and good will. The Best Florist Singapore may use the larkspur for birthday bouquets or housewarming flower arrangements, though they can be mixed with other fresh flowers to suit other occasions.

Larkspurs can shine on their own, as baby shower flowers and such, but they can also play the supporting role—enhancing the beauty of other blooms. So before you schedule a generic fruit basket delivery for your loved one, send them their birthday flower as a more thoughtful and meaningful gift.

Background and Etymology

Unlike roses or tulips which are frequently used to express love and romance, the larkspur conveys more gentle messages and versatile enough to be used in various mixed flower bouquets for Valentine’s Day Flowers or even as sympathy flowers.

Larkspur used to be classified as a Delphininium, though it has recently been reclassified to Consolida. It earned the common name of larkspur because the appearance of the flower is similar to the shape of a spur.

While it’s easy to confuse a delphinium from a larkspur, there are differences between the two. Larkspur are annuals with more delicate blooms that appear in a wider range of colours (white, pink, purple, red and orange), while delphinium are perennials which are confined to hues of blue and white.

Meanings and Symbolisms

In Greek mythology, it was said that upon the death of Achilles, both Ajax and Ulysses wanted to claim his arms. The Greeks eventually awarded them to Ulysses which angered Ajax and led him to take his life with a sword, and where his blood fell, the larkspur grew. According to this myth, you can even make out the initials of Ajax (A I A) on the petals of larkspur.

Native Americans attribute the name of the larkspur to an angel or celestial being. It is said that the being sent down a spike made from pieces of the sky. The sun dried out the spike and it scattered in the wind. Where the pieces touched the earth, the larkspur bloomed.

For Christians, legend has it that after the crucifixion, when many doubted if Christ would rise again, a tiny bunny tried to remind them of Christ’s promise. The bunny kept his faith and waited in the cave until Christ arose. For his steadfastness, Christ showed the bunny a tiny blue larkspur flower which bears the image of the bunny’s face—a symbol of placing your trust in Christ which endures to this day.

In history, the larkspur’s popularity rose during the Victorian era. The flowers are given as gifts meant to symbolize an open heart as well as to convey pure intentions. Specific colours also express different meanings. Pink larkspur represents fickleness, white refers to a happy-go-lucky nature, while lavender suggests first love and a sweet disposition.

Practical Uses

Larkspur can have a lot of practical uses. Small doses or amounts can have medicinal properties, such as treatment for insect bites, parasitic infestation, dropsy, and asthma. The juice, mixed with alum, can be used as a blue ink or dye. Historically, larkspur has been used to treat eye irritation or eye complaints and is believed to relieve scorpion stings as well as to kill nits and lice.

Furthermore, dried larkspur has been used to ward off scorpions and even venomous snakes. They’re also good for aiding pollination because they attract hummingbirds and bees.

So go ahead and plant these hardworking blooms in your own garden and discover all their uses and health benefits!